Two year has passed since I last saw Caden. Even though it’s painful, I’m still waiting for his return—the return that now feels almost impossible to happen.
Kayanin ko rin maghintay, kahit ilang taon pa yan, para lang makita siyang muli.
Si Scaden, isang taon na, pero hindi pa rin niya nakikita ang daddy niya.
Palagi kong pinapakita sa kanya ang picture ng daddy niya at sinasabi ko na ito si daddy. Minsan, nagtatanong siya kung saan ito, pero ang tanging sagot ko ay may importanteng pinuntahan lang at makikita rin niya ito balang araw.
Caden, when will you show yourself to me again? With each passing day, this question lingers in my mind. Waiting for your return feels like an endless process, but I still hope that the day will come when we will see each other again. Every time your name is mentioned or memories of you come up, my heart holds onto the hope that we will have another chance to be together.
knock knock knock
"come in" sabi ko, at unti-unting bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa akin si Logan na buhat si Scaden.
"Did he fall asleep?" I asked with a smile as I approached.
"Yes, he got tired from playing," sagot ni Logan habang maingat na inilalapag si Scaden sa kama.
"Thank you, Logan. " Sabi ko habang inaasikaso si Scaden, na mahimbing na natutulog.
"You're welcome. Everyone needs help sometimes," he replied, still taking care of Scaden's things.
"By the way, this is from Caden's mom. I’m not sure what it is," "Sabi niya, sabay abot sa akin ng isang kahon, na dahan-dahan kong tinanggap.
I placed it on the small table.
"Have you had dinner yet?" baling ko sakanya.
"Not yet. Why, are you going to cook for me?" nang aasar na sabi niya.
"There’s still some leftover food in the kitchen," I replied with a laugh.
Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, may pilyong ngiti sa kanyang labi. "Leftovers? What happened to the five-star treatment I was expecting?"
Pinagulong ko ang aking mga mata at kinross ang mga braso sa dibdib. "Sorry, but you missed the VIP pass for that,"
Tumawa siya, at ang tunog ay mainit at nakakahawa. "Alright, fine. But don't be surprised if I raid your fridge later."
"Just make sure you leave something for me," sagot ko pabalik na may ngiti.
Umiling siya nang may pabirong buntong-hininga. "You're lucky i like you enough not to eat everything."
nginiwian ko siya "tumahimik kana nga dalawang taon kana dito hindi ka parin marunong mag Tagalog "
Napakamot siya sa ulo at tumawa ng mahina. "Hey, I'm trying! Pero alam mo namang mas madali pa sa'kin yung English."
"Excuses," sagot ko, sabay iling. "Kahit 'Salamat' nga minsan mali pa pagbigkas mo."
"Fine, fine! From now on, mag-aaral na ako ng Tagalog. Seryoso na 'to," sagot niya, tinaas pa ang kamay na parang nanunumpa.
"Good luck," sabi ko nang may ngiti, "kailangan mo ng tutor."
"Maybe... you na lang," aniya habang nakangisi, at muling sinubukan akong asarin.
"Bayad ka muna," biro ko, sabay talikod upang ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.
"pay?" tanong niya, sumusunod habang naglalakad ako. "how much? Kaya ko na bayaran 'yan," dagdag niya na may pilyong ngiti.
